I have been receiving a lot of inquiries over SMS, email, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, through my blog and even personally on places to go near Metro Manila that are ideal for a quick getaways. So I thought of publishing the compilation of my usual answers.
For those planning a quickie weekend getaway but do not have the luxury of time and enough budget to go some place far away from the Metropolis, here’s a list of places to consider.
Tagaytay (Cavite)
Points of interest: Taal Lake and Volcano, Caleruega (Nasugbu area), Ambon-ambon Falls, Tagaytay Highlands, Palace in the Sky, Picnic Grove, Flower Farm, Sky Fun Amusement Park
Activities: Trek to Taal Old Crater, visit the Flower Farm and Caleruega, trek to Ambon-ambon Falls of Talisay other waterfalls of Laurel, ride the biggest ferris wheel in the country known as “Sky Eye”, food trip, fruit shopping, biking
What will make me go there?: Temperate weather, good view, wide array of restaurants
Minimum day required: 1
Corregidor Island (Cavite)
Points of interest: Mile-Long Barrack, Century Old Lighthouse, Ruins, Malinta Tunnel
Activities: History tours, ghost hunting, trail biking, adventure race
What will make me go there?: To awaken the history buff in me
Minimum day required: 1
Related Link: Corregidor in a Walk to Remember
Mt. Pinatubo (Tarlac – Zambales – Pampanga)
Point of interest: Pinatubo Crater Lake, Capas National Shrine
Activities: Trek Mt. Pinatubo Crater Lake, 4×4 ride, side trip in Capas National Shrine and Central Azucarera de Tarlac, food trip in Pampanga or Tarlac, experience Volcanic Ash Spa
What will make me go there?: It’s all about adventure and great scenery
Minimum day required: 1
Related Link: Pinatubo Travel Guide
Laguna
Points of interest: Lake Caliraya, View of Mt. Makiling; Pagsanjan Falls; Majayjay Falls; Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery; hotsprings; old churches of Liliw, Nagcarlan, Pakil, Pangil, Pagsanjan, Turumba
Activities: Spend a day in Lake Caliraya Resort or Laresio Lakeside Resort, dip in the hot spring resorts of Calamba and Los Baños, trek Mt. Makiling, biking, visit old churches and waterfalls, shooting the rapids of Pagsanjan, see Majayjay Falls, visit Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery, go on a food trip in Laguna
What will make me go there?: Variety of activities to choose from
Minimum day required: 1
Related Link: Laguna
San Antonio or Pundaquit (Zambales)
Points of interest: Anawangin Cove, Nagsasa Cove, Silanguin Cove, Talisayin Cove, Capones Lighthouse, Camara Island, Casa San Miguel
Activities: Island hopping, camping, beach bumming, lighthouse trek, surfing, trek Mt. Pundaquit and Mt. Nagsasa, watersports and activities
What will make me go there?: Because I love adventure, great scenery, beach, lighthouse and landscape photography
Minimum days required: 2
Related Link: Zambales
Rizal Province
Points of interest: Thunderbird Resorts, Pranjetto Hills, Club Manila East, Angono Petroglyphs, Pinto Museum, Daranak Falls, Batlag Falls, Puray Falls, Hinulugang Taktak, Antipolo Church, Nagpatong Rock, Mount Maynuba
Activities: Indoor surfing in Club Manila East; mountain biking in various trails (Shotgun, Timberland, Angono, etc); visit to Daranak Falls, Batlag Falls, Puray Falls and other waterfalls in the province; trek to Nagpatong Rock, Mount Masungki, Mount Cayabu, Mount Maynoba; relax in Luljetta Place Garden; visit museums; archaeological sites and old visit churches
What will make me go there?: Great scenery and climate, variety of activities, sea of clouds, beautiful summits, awesome bike trails
Related Link: Tanay Travel Guide
Mauban, (Quezon Province)
Points of interest: Puting Buhangin Beach, Dampalitan Beach, Borawan Beach, Kuwebang Lampas, Cagbalete Island, Dahoyhoy Falls, Hagdan-Hagdan Falls, Iringan Falls, Malicboy Falls, Bahay-Pagi Falls and more
Activities: Beach bumming, island hopping, waterfalls trekking
What will make me go there?: For the love of beach and waterfalls
Minimum day required: 1
Related Link: Mauban
Anilao and Masasa (Batangas)
Points of interest: Dive sites, snorkeling sites, Mt. Gulugod Baboy, Sombrero Island, Masasa Beach
Activities: Scuba diving, snorkeling, trek to Mt. Gulugod Baboy, beach bumming in Masasa
What will make me go there?: Amazing scuba diving sites and beautiful beaches
Minimum day required: 1
Related Link: Masasa Beach Travel Guide and Anilao Travel Guide
Puerto Galera (Mindoro Oriental)
Points of interest: Dive sites, snorkeling sites, Tamaraw Falls, White Beach
Activities: Scuba diving, snorkeling, trek Tamaraw Falls, beach and island hopping
What will make me go there?: Amazing scuba diving sites and great night life
Minimum day required: 2
Related Link: Rediscovering Puerto Galera
Nasugbu and Ternate (Cavite)
Points of interest: Fortune Island, Caylabne, Puerto Azul, Hamilo Coast, Kawayan Cove, Pico de Loro Cove, Mt. Palay-Palay National Park, Pico de Loro, Nasugbu-Ternate Tunnel, Marine Base (Boracay of Cavite)
Activities: Beach bumming, explore Fortune Island, biking nasugbu-Ternate, trekking to Pico de Loro
What will make me go there?: For the beach, great biking or trekking destination, good scenery, mountains
Minimum day required: 1
Related Link: Fortune Island Travel Guide
Taal (Batangas)
Points of interest: Heritage District, Taal Basilica
Activities: Tour the heritage area, visit the old church of Taal, food trip
What will make me go there?: For the heritage and beautiful church
Minimum day required: 1
Related Link: The Heritage Town of Taal
Bataan
Points of interest: Beaches of Morong, Bagac, Mariveles; Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar; Dambana ng Kagitingan (Mt. Samat); Mt. Mariveles; Bataan Natural Park; Bataan Nuclear Power Plant; Dunsulan Falls, Limutan Falls and other waterfalls of the province
Activities: Beach bumming, history tour of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar and Dambana ng Kagitingan in Mt. Samat, climb Mt. Mariveles, visit Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, trek to Sunsulan Falls or Limutan Falls
What will make me go there?: For the historical sites, beaches and waterfalls
Minimum day required: 1
Related Link: Escape to Bataan: Dunsulan Falls, Ambon-Ambon Falls and Limutan Falls
BEST TEAM & FAMILY BUILDING LOCATIONS!! Experience affordable 2D/1N Anawangin Cove & Nagsasa Cove with full packed unique island hopping, trekking, boat transfer & complete camping supply starting @P599/pax (8pax min and/or joiners). -Cut agency/coordinator rates, get more value for money!! DIRECT ON-SITE OPERATORS
Landline: 047 2714068 / 09778317973
09335227701 / 09754891998
Nice, this is what I’ve been looking for! Planning to go in manila this august, I know the place is a bustling city and I just need a place to relax after all the events. Wanna go in some parks though, good thing there’s some natural park included in this list. Kinda wondering, isn’t the “Sky Eye” located in Sky Ranch theme park?
Hey Dude! Love your article. Awesome insights on the places to go in Manila. It would be nice to get away from the busy streets here and just enjoy some nature and adventure! I’ve been to Hidden Valley Laguna once for their hot spring. Would love to try other hot springs near Manila! Any Suggestion?
Your blogsite is very helpful for a newbie traveller like me. Very interesting places!
Your blogsite is very helpful for a newbie traveller like me.
I am going to Manila next week for business and I am at a loss of where to go for the two days I have off. I really wanted to go to Bacuit Bay, but there are not hotels in our policy. Soon.. looking for something like that, that maybe I could drive to instead of fly? I’m traveling solo, so beautiful landscape, trail walking, mountain trekking, etc. is what I am after, then a quick snorkel in the water. 🙂 Thanks!
thank you for the insights!
Have you taken a look at places like Real, Infanta, General Nakar or Polillo Islands in northern Quezon province yet? If not, you should give it a try. You would probably be pleasantly surprised that you don’t have to go too far to get a taste of smalltown Philippines that’s only 3 hours away from the hustle and bustle that’s Metro Manila… Thanks.
Thanks for the head’s up. I’ve been to Jomalig but not in Polilio, planning to explore that island as well as Patnanungan really soon. Infanta, I have been there too, I biked from Manila and all the way to Infanta early this year but I haven’t really explored the town’s attractions. Will do, will do 🙂
You did not include Rizal! Antipolo please!! 😀
It’s there 🙂
Very helpful article